WITNESS SAYS MRS. VON BULOW TALKED OF SHOTS

Special to the New York Times

Published: March 4, 1982

NEWPORT, R.I., March 3—
A New York exercise instructor testified today that Martha von Bulow suggested to her that an injection of insulin or vitamin B would help her lose weight.

Joy E. O'Neill, a defense witness at Claus von Bulow's trial on charges of attempting to murder his wife, said Mrs. von Bulow also suggested an injection of Valium to calm down at the end of the day. Mrs. von Bulow took a private exercise class given by Miss O'Neill.

Miss O'Neill did not change her testimony under cross-examination by the prosecutor, Stephen R. Famiglietti. Her account strikes at the heart of the prosecution case, which is that Mr. von Bulow caused his wife to fall into comas in 1979 and 1980 by injecting her with insulin. Mrs. von Bulow has not recovered from the second coma, and doctors say she probably never will.

The defense has contended that Mrs. von Bulow caused the comas by over-indulging in sweets, alcohol and barbiturates. But two doctors testified for the prosecution last week that neither coma could have been caused by anything but insulin.

Miss O'Neill never testified that Mrs. von Bulow had said she had given herself such injections, but she did quote her as saying that ''It's easy to inject yourself,'' and that someone had taught her how to do it. Miss O'Neill could not recall who might have taught Mrs. von Bulow how to use the syringe. In cross-examination the prosecution indicated that it might have been her husband. Dispute on Owner of Black Bag

Witnesses have testified that a black bag found in Mr. von Bulow's closet at the couple's summer home here at various times contained liquid Valium, insulin, hypodermic needles and barbiturates. The defense attorney, Herald Price Fahringer, contends those items were Mrs. von Bulow's, not her husband's as the prosecution has asserted.

Mr. Fahringer also called a New York investment banker, Mark Millard of Shearson-American Express, to whom Mr. von Bulow has acted as a business consultant on energy deals for three years.

Mr. Millard testified that Mr. von Bulow could eventually earn a salary of $100,000 to $200,000 as a middle-@ or upper-management executive. On cross-examination, he agreed with prosecution figures showing that the financial services company actually paid Mr. von Bulow $17,600 in 1980 and 1981 for reimbursement of travel expenses plus a daily fee of $300 to $350.

Mrs. von Bulow's financial manager testified earlier that her husband would inherit $14 million upon her death. 1978 Conversation Recalled

Miss O'Neill, formerly a dancer with the American Ballet Theater, said the conversation with Mrs. von Bulow took place at the end of 1978 in a private room of the Manya Kahn exercise studio, where she worked since 1974. She said Mrs. von Bulow attended daily private instructions there for four years, and that they had become ''like sisters.''

''I said I'm really gaining weight,'' Miss O'Neill testified, ''and she said what you probably need is a shot of insulin or vitamin B. At least then you could eat everything you want including sweets.''

Miss O'Neill said she first realized the importance of the conversation after reading a magazine article about the case last January. She said she told a friend who is a lawyer and that her friend contacted the prosecution and the defense.

On cross-examination, the prosecutor suggested that the proprietor of the exercise studio, Manya Kahn, said Miss O'Neill had been dismissed, was never qualified to teach private classes and was allowed to do so only on an emergency basis. ''That's totally incorrect,'' Miss O'Neill said.

At a recess, Mr. Famiglietti said he would call rebuttal witnesses to testify about Miss O'Neill after the defense rests.